Sep 15th, 2008
by timlyman.
Yale Law Women has taken its latest look at law firms’ policies. Releasing its third annual survey on family-friendly firms, the student group cites the 10 best at helping lawyers strike a work-life balance. Some results were heartening. The group found, for example, that the firms are giving men an average of eight weeks of [...]
Sep 11th, 2008
by timlyman.
While firms in many other cities are laying off lawyers, large law firms in Chicago are facing a talent shortage.
From The National Law Journal:
“National law firms have rushed into Chicago during the past decade, especially in the past three years, but many are finding now that their collective arrival is fueling intense competition to fill [...]
Sep 10th, 2008
by timlyman.
From the Law Librarian Blog:
Bankruptcy filings in federal courts rose by 28.9 percent according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. There were 967,831 bankruptcy cases filed during the 12-month period that ended June 30, 2008, compared to 751,056 cases the previous 12 months. Historic data on bankruptcy filings is available [...]
Sep 10th, 2008
by timlyman.
Not every law firm is suffering from declining revenues, facing layoffs or contemplating mergers to shore up their firms. At least one is doing it the old fashioned way – adding more lawyers.
Chicago based Arnstein & Lehr is looking to double its Florida attorney headcount and expand its Chicago office from 93 to 120 lawyers.
The [...]
Sep 8th, 2008
by timlyman.
Any of the recent stories on law firm mergers can be summarized as “firm X seeks merger in wake of partner exodus.”
As anyone can tell you, bargaining from a position of weakness is not a good strategy. Too often mergers are seen as recourse for a failing firm and look more like acts of desperation [...]
Sep 8th, 2008
by timlyman.
Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner is the latest firm seeking a merger to shore up the firm in the wake of significant partner departures.
According to sources, Thelen and Nixon Peabody may have an agreement pending. Thelen is not trying to keep its merger aspirations secret, but won’t comment on specifics. A Thelen spokes man [...]
Sep 4th, 2008
by timlyman.
If you think layoffs are just for factory workers you haven’t been reading the legal news lately. Firms large and small are laying off associates left and right, and it’s not just under producing associates. If your firm has gone through a round of layoffs, or if you think they are headed in that direction, [...]